The Arab Spring took the world by surprise. In a matter of months, protests spread from Tunisia to almost every country in the Middle East and North Africa. Why do people rebel? What triggers these uprisings? This study looks for answers.

Last February, protests against the Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi spiralled into a civil war between Qaddafi’s security forces and supporters of the interim Transitional National Council (TNC) that seek to topple Qaddafi’s regime, as well as NATO forces siding with the TNC. The conflict has killed thousands and has crippled the Libyan economy.